Are you looking for the best Concord, California restaurants? Then you’ve come to the right place!
First, I had never really thought about traveling to Concord, California. After a discussion with Visit Concord staff at a conference, I was intrigued enough to start planning the road trip there, 450 miles from Palm Springs. The next thing I knew, I was going to spend three days there in this town, 46 miles from Napa Valley and 32 miles from San Francisco. I had no expectations and decided to let the trip unfold before me.
Since the road trip traveled up Highway 5, where few choices for a meal exist, I decided to take my lunch in a cooler. As I write this, I smile because, during my childhood, my mom would always pack egg salad sandwiches for our first meal. She was particular, for it had to have celery, not pickles, for the crunch. Even though they were always messy, who am I to stop the tradition? I was glad I did, for the hunger bug struck out in the middle of nowhere. And this is where the Concord California Restaurants came into play.
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The Five Great Concord, California Restaurants
Doppio Zero
2020 Diamond Blvd., Concord, CA, 74720, United States // +17257913805
After checking into the Conrad Hilton hotel, it was time for a lovely dinner. Visit Concord had recommended the Italian restaurant Doppio Zero. Outside my window, I could see The Veranda, the expansive shopping center where it was located—a walk after the drive was exactly what I needed. Here’s why this is one of the best Concord, California Restaurants.
Doppio Zero is located on the perimeter of this massive shopping center, where the white architecture glistens in the brilliant sun. I walked through an arch, and right before me was a large pond complete with a dancing water show. I looked to the right and saw a beautiful patio with royal blue umbrellas and matching striped chairs. You can imagine my delight when I discovered I was at my destination.
I was escorted to a lovely table with a view where I could see the pond and visitors leisurely strolling through the grounds. The first order of business was to order a glass of Prosecco. Hey, it had been a long drive, and I felt I deserved it.
I perused the menu. Homemade pasta and sauces are made in the style of southern Italy. How could I go wrong? Any cook will tell you that the process of making lasagna can be long and produces several dishes needing to be washed. Thus, I decided to enlist the skills of a talented chef to prepare one of my favorite pasta dishes, meat lasagna.
It didn’t take long to discover why this restaurant was once named #19 by Top 50 Pizzas. My lasagna arrived steaming hot, and the enticing aromas alone made me stop and appreciate the apparent perfect blend of seasonings. Then I took a bite. You remember that sensation when the food reaches your tastebuds, and all you can think to yourself is, “Oh my, this is sooooo good.”
Combine perfectly prepared homemade pasta with a special secret sauce, and you have a winner, as evidence Doppio Zero’s continuing expansion. They have restaurants in San Francisco and Mountain View.
Alpine Pastry
1848 Willow Pass Road, Concord, CA, United States // +19256897220
I can’t think of a better way to start the day than with a pastry and an excellent cup of coffee. Thus, I set out to find the almost 50-year-old bakery, one of the oldest in the area and located in Concord.
When you approach, you might be surprised by the size of the parking lot. My first thought was, “Wow. This place is popular.” I was soon to find out the reason why this is one of the best Concord, California Restaurants.
There was an order line, which was a good thing because it wound by the windowed showcase displaying a wide variety of pastries, each looking like they would be perfect. By the time I got to the front of the line, maybe ten minutes, I had decided on two things: An apricot Danish and the black and white macaroon, which surely would come in handy for a snack later in the day.
With coffee and pastry, I headed out to the outside patio. I found a table, sat down, and smiled as I saw the large, approximately six ft. sculpture of a fork standing in the courtyard. I loved the sense of humor, and it helped lift my spirits on this early morning even more.
Yes, I can attest to the authenticity of the Danish pastry. It was flakey like you come to expect from European pastries, and the fresh apricots added the right texture to accompany the tasty custard.
Just saying the macaroon turned out to be a bedtime snack, and I was not disappointed. Though it was huge, I saved the other half for a snack on my drive back to Palm Springs.
Bay Leaf Cafe
2123 Pacheco St., Concord, CA, United States // 915-363-3988
With an early morning start, I was told the restaurant was a place to get a hearty breakfast. After parking the car, I walked up the oak tree-lined street and found it on under the shade of the giant trees. I opted to sit out on the patio. It wasn’t long before I heard the quiet chatter of a nearby couple, but more fun was the happy chirping of the birds on this bright sunny morning. By the way, it is dog-friendly.
Staff immediately brought me out a steaming cup of coffee. Though it was bustling, the server was gracious and somehow understood my need to just be for a bit. Apparently, I looked like I was in need.
I ordered the sausage, spinach, and mushroom omelet. Much more than I needed, but I have to say, the homemade biscuits with honey were the big hit. And, if you want morning ambiance, here’s the place to start your day.
Cinnaholic
2008 Salvio St., Concord, CA, 94520, United States // +19258265346
You do not often run into an organization that presented on Shark Tank. Though the deal did not work out in the end, I feel the owners have not looked back, for they now have franchises across the nation. Naturally, I had to see what the fuss was all about, so I entered their small storefront on a side street near the famous Concord Todos Santos Plaza. Here are some more reasons why it’s one of the best Concord California Restaurants.
Since I am not a vegetarian, I hesitated about ordering a cinnamon roll that was 100% vegan, dairy-free, lactose-free, egg-free, and cholesterol-free. Seriously, can you blame me?
Oh, the choices. There are 20 different flavored frostings to top your cinnamon rolls. Already suspicious enough, I opted for the plain frosting. Then the next option is the topping. Since I loved peaches, I opted for the white peach topping.
This is meant to be a grab-and-go place. I paid the bill; not inexpensive. Then I headed outside to grab one of the two tables to eat my cinnamon roll on site.
My reaction? I loved every morsel. Let’s say it is a good thing it is not in my neighborhood. Definitely one of the best Concord California Restaurants.
Pancho Villa
1500 Monument Blvd., Concord, CA, 94520, United States // +9257983155
One would be remiss if she did not mention Concord’s famous Taco Trail. It recently was named by the State of California’s Tourism as a top marketing campaign. Five people set out to document restaurants and food trucks that served Mexican food. In the end, they found 39 stops mapped with rest stops to revamp if you need a respite from all those food choices.
Not wanting to be left out, I focused on Pancho Villa. Okay, I’ll admit it was next to a Habit of Humanity Restore shop in a strip mall, but I certainly do not regret my choice. I walked in, and I immediately smiled to myself. It looks like I made an excellent choice. The colors gray, white, and black were the perfect choice to emphasize the newly remodeled squeaky-clean décor.
With temperatures rising, a Pacifica was the first thing on my mind. So, with the refreshing beer in hand, I perused the menu. Deciding it was time to deviate from my regular go-to Mexican food Chile Rellenos, I decided on the Mixed Fajitas.
While waiting, I listened to salsa-like music, which added to the upbeat, positive vibes of the restaurant. Workers came in, the manager greeted them by name, and the workers put in their orders without looking at the menus. Clearly, this was a restaurant the locals enjoyed.
My food arrived, literally sizzling hot with steam rising into the atmosphere. Piled high on my plate were shrimp, beef, and chicken which lay beautifully on the mixture of onions and peppers. Another dish arrived with beans, rice, and homemade corn tortillas. Definitely one of the best Concord, California Restaurants.
My review? I am not exaggerating when I say this may be one of the most outstanding Mexican meals I have ever had in the United States.
Best Concord, California Restaurants
With my visit to Concord ending, I had a couple of regrets. One, I wish I were staying longer, for it is obvious I only scratched the surface of what there is to see and do here. Secondly, next time I want to bring with me a Foodie Friend so we can explore the culinary choices that are still yet to be experienced.
Journalist and travel writer with immense curiosity that has taken her to 29 countries, 16 islands, and 49 states (Alaska on the bucket list). She is the author of two books: Face-to-Face Networking: It’s All About Communication and It Doesn’t Hurt to Ask: It’s All About Communication, which was named Best Book Finalist by USA Book News.
Her motto: Let me help tell your destination’s story to the people throughout the world.